Maria's New World

Written by: Rebecca Imler

Images provided by: Google Gemini

About the Author

The author, Rebecca Imler, is an educator who is passionate about supporting others and helping young children feel valued and included in the classroom. She studies Primary Inclusive Teaching Preparation at the University of Akron, planning on receiving her degree in Fall 2026. Rebecca loves writing stories that celebrate diversity and finally establishing that sense of belonging. When she is not teaching or studying, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and gaining new insights to support young children's development.

Maria is a new student at Lincoln Elementary. She just moved from New York and moved to Akron, Ohio for her mother's work.

Today is her first day. She is excited to make new friends but feels nervous because everything felt new for her. 

The hallways buzzed with voices she did not recognize. She looked at the posters on the walls, but the words felt jumbled and confusing, like they were hiding from her.

In addition to feeling overwhelmed by the crowd and being new, she felt disconnected from others. She observed her environment and noticed one big difference. She was the only one with a wheelchair. 

Her heart began to race. 

"What if no one understands me?"

"What if I don't fit in" she thought to herself.

Mrs. Johnson, her new second grade teacher, greeted her with a warming smile. That was the first real welcoming interaction she has had so far. 

"Welcome, Maria! We are so happy to have you!" she said.

Maria nodded shyly and found her seat. 

The children were looking at her curious eyes. 

She wished she could disappear into her backpack.

After morning meeting, Mrs. Johnson clapped her hands. 

"Class, today we are starting something very exciting and important- our community map!"

She held up a big poster shaped like a neighborhood map. 

"Each of you will contribute special insights from your family- traditions, food, celebrations, languages- anything that shows who you are and where you came from.

The class became filled with excitement and began speaking out about their family history. 

"My grandma immigrated from Italy, and she makes homemade lasagna all the time to surprise me!"

"My dad speaks Spanish!" said another. 

Maria listened quietly. Her stomach fluttered. 

"Can I share something too? Would they think it would be strange?" she wondered.

One by one, students came up to place their drawings on the map. Bright colors filled the poster with lanterns, music notes, country flags, and family foods.

Mrs. Johnson knelt beside Maria. 

“Would you like to add something? Only if you’re ready” she asked.

Maria swallowed. She thought of her childhood and home. She thought of her grandfather’s love for music, the way his guitar filled the living room with soft, happy notes. She remembered listening to her grandmother’s stories about her life in Italy, her voice rising and falling like a song and her homemade cannoli.